MORE than 20 York academics have spoken of their fears for vulnerable young people if a specialist youth advice centre is closed.

The researchers and lecturers from the University of York's Department of Social Policy and Social Work claimed the closure of the Castlegate centre would store up long-term problems for the sake of a quick financial ‘fix’.

"Essentially, this decision will mean the most vulnerable young people within York are likely to slip through the net," they said in a jointly signed letter to The Press.

"As local academics whose work focuses on the well-being of young people, we know how important Castlegate is in terms of the preventative support it provides.

"Castlegate offers an inclusive, friendly and unintimidating environment focused solely on the needs of young people."

City of York Council has been proposing to transfer the service provided at Castlegate to its headquarters, West Offices.

But the academics claimed the relocation would create 'fundamental barriers' for young people trying to access vital services.

They were also concerned young people had not been properly consulted and claimed closure was the latest in a long list of local young people’s services which had recently been subject to fundamental reform, essentially shifting responsibility to voluntary/community groups and causing a significant loss of highly qualified, experienced staff.

The academics, Dr Fiona Aspinal, Dr Nina Biehal, Dr Simon Cauvain, Dr Edmund Coleman-Fountain, Dr Bob Coles, Dr Katie Graham, Dr Mark Hardy, Dr Carol-Ann Hooper, Dr Dan Horsfall, Hannah Jobling, Dr Juliet Koprowska, Dr Stuart Lowe, Dr Gill Main, Angela Portz, Polly Sykes, Pat Walton, Dr Martin Webber and Dr Aniela Wenham, Dr Deborah Quilgars, Dr Vanita Sundaram and Dr Nicholas Pleace, claimed: "The current offer to young people in the city is a mere shadow of that which previously existed.

"Within such a climate, it is vital that Castlegate remains as a trusted brand that has effectively supported all young people within York since 2007."

Council Director of Children’s Services, Jon Stonehouse, said the cabinet’s decision to close the Castlegate Centre had been called in and would be re-considered by a cross-party committee on October 31.

"The council has already underlined its commitment to further consultation with young people and stakeholders if the decision is upheld," he said.


Below is the full letter from the academics:

We are disappointed to hear of City of York Council’s recent decision to close the information, advice and support service for young people aged 16-25 at Castlegate.

The ‘reconfigured’ service CYC have proposed removes the essential ingredients which make Castlegate work – its ability to offer a holistic, discreet and accessible service to young people. Castlegate offers an inclusive, friendly and unintimidating environment focused solely on the needs of young people.

We think it unfeasible that young people, particularly those who are marginalised, would have the same experience at West Offices.

Essentially, this decision will mean the most vulnerable young people within York are likely to slip through the net. The petition to keep Castlegate open (found on Change.org) poses some important questions that need resolving as soon as possible.

For instance, where would a young person go who is in debt to a loan shark? Castlegate offers a safe space for young people who are suffering from mental health difficulties to seek counselling and support.

It is also a trusted environment for young people to pick up contraception and receive sexual health advice in a confidential setting. Relocating to West Offices will create fundamental barriers for young people to access these vital services.

As local academics whose work focuses on the well-being of young people, we know how important Castlegate is in terms of the preventative support it provides.

Research for the Audit Commission on the cost effectiveness of young people's projects has been carried out at York and this research has been discussed explicitly with CYC. One of the major conclusions of that work was that cuts in such projects, whilst they may provide short-term savings could lead to disproportionate costs in the longer term.

We wonder if CYC have undertaken a similar cost-benefits analysis to consider the consequences closing Castlegate might have for young people, and if they have, why this has not been made publically available. We are also concerned that young people have not been properly consulted on this matter. We would be keen to hear how young people themselves were involved in the decision making process.

We note that the closure of Castlegate is the latest in a long list of local young people’s services which have recently been subject to fundamental reform. These reforms have essentially shifted responsibility from the local council to voluntary/community groups.

Whilst these links are positive, the scale of such change has resulted in numerous restructures and a significant loss of highly qualified, experienced staff who were previously employed by CYC.

Young people within York have been disproportionately hit hard by local authority cut backs and the current offer to young people in the city is a mere shadow of that which previously existed. Within such a climate, it is vital that Castlegate remains as a trusted brand that has effectively supported all young people within York since 2007.

It appears that CYC has not listened to the views of local people, who according to CYC’s own consultations, see facilities for young people and services for vulnerable people as top priorities. We are sympathetic to the pressure CYC is under to achieve savings due to public sector cuts. But at the same time, this decision will store up long-term problems for the sake of a quick financial ‘fix’.

We ask CYC to reconsider the closure of a much valued and valuable service and reengage in meaningful and transparent consultation with the young people of York and the professionals who support them.

Please note that this letter reflects the personal views of the signatories and does not necessarily represent those of the University of York.

Dr Fiona Aspinal, Research Fellow
Dr Nina Biehal, Professor of Social Work Research
Dr Simon Cauvain, Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Edmund Coleman-Fountain, Research Fellow
Dr Bob Coles, Honorary Fellow
Dr Katie Graham, Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Mark Hardy, Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Carol-Ann Hooper, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy
Dr Dan Horsfall, Lecturer in Social Policy
Hannah Jobling, Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Juliet Koprowska, Senior Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Stuart Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy
Dr Gill Main, Research Fellow
Dr Nicholas Pleace, Senior Research Fellow
Angela Portz, Making Research Count Regional Co-ordinator and former CEO of York CVS
Dr Deborah Quilgars, Senior Research Fellow
Dr Vanita Sundaram, Senior Lecturer in Education
Polly Sykes, Teaching Fellow
Pat Walton, Lecturer in Social Work
Dr Martin Webber, Reader in Social Work
Dr Aniela Wenham, Lecturer in Social Policy